Clastidium (222 BC)

Not content with the slaughter of the Gauls at Telamon, the Romans launched a series of punitive expeditions into Cisalpine Gaul over the next three years. In 222 a combined Roman army under the consuls Marcus Claudius Marcellus and Gnaeus …

-222

203

Not content with the slaughter of the Gauls at Telamon, the Romans launched a series of punitive expeditions into Cisalpine Gaul over the next three years. In 222 a combined Roman army under the consuls Marcus Claudius Marcellus and Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio, was besieging the Gallic town of Acerrae. The Gallic King Britomartus responded by laying siege to Roman-allied Clastidium with an army of 10,000 men. While Scipio pressed the siege of Acerrae with the legions, Marcellus set off with all the Roman cavalry (less than 4,000) and the pick of the lightly equipped velites to rescue Clastidium. Marcellus was a veteran of the First Punic War and already distinguished for his bravery and prowess. Without halting day or night, Marcellus surprised the Gauls at Clastidium. Faced with a Roman force far sooner than expected, the barbarians were forced to lift the siege and march out to meet the oncoming Romans. Though not yet in good order, the Gauls immediately charged in their customary manner with great violence and dreadful threats. King Britomartus rode out in front of his troops. Marcellus led his cavalry forward, extending his wings into a thin line. When he was not far from the enemy, he turned to charge. Meanwhile Britomartus saw Marcellus, and rode far out in front of the rest to challenge him. Marcellus rushed upon the king and slew him with three quick blows. With their king dead the Gallic forces were cut down or put to flight in short order. Never before in Roman history had their cavalry inflected such a defeat against a larger force both dismounted and mounted. Marcellus was awarded the spolia optima for slaying an enemy king in single combat. Both Marcellus and Gnaeus Scipio would soon be facing Hannibal and the Carthaginians.

Casteggio, Italy

The Battle of Clastidium was fought in 222 BC between a Roman Republican army led by the Roman consul Marcus Claudius Marcellus and the Insubres. Florus writes that the Insubres were led by Viridomarus, or Britomartus, as the name varies in translation. The Romans won the battle, and in the process, Marcellus earned the spolia opima, one of the highest honors in ancient Rome, by killing the king in single combat. It was also notable as one of the few battles won by the Roman cavalry without any aid by the legions.

Wikipedia: Battle of Clastidium

Gaul

Roman

Celtic War